Chosen answer:Originally from the line in the Christmas carol "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," it has come to mean both (a) any activity from which one is intentionally excluded and (b) tricks undertaken with the point of irritating or harassing the subject - as in: "Oh, they want to play reindeer games with me, do they? Well, I'll show them."

It's interesting to note that Isaac Hayes has a very minor role in the movie as the guy who notices the roaches in the food in prison. Kelso from That 70's Show is also in the movie as the guy Rudy swaps clothes with to use him as a decoy.